Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories

Contents: ***Introduction by Roald Dahl......11 ***W.S by L.P. Hartley......21 ***Harry by Rosemary Timperley......33 ***The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith......47 ***In the Tube by E.F. Benson......63 ***Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley......78 ***Elias and the Draug by Jonas Lie......81 ***Playmates by A.M. Burrage......90 ***Ringing the Changes by Robert Aickman......115 ***The Telephone by Mary Treadgold......146 ***The Ghost of a Hand by J. Sheridan Le Fanu......154 ***The Sweeper by A.M. Burrage (Ex-Private X)......162 ***Afterward by Edith Wharton......179 ***On the Brighton Road by Richard Middleton......210 ***The Upper Birth by F. Marion Crawford......214 __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ _________ A great collection of very interesting ghost stories to be read and then re-read again and again! It seems to me a better recommended reading age would be something like 13 yrs and above. Originally, I thought that this was a book of stories all written by Roald Dahl himself... that was the impression I got from the title. Anyway, I recommend this to you!

A novelist receives strange and disturbing post cards from an unknown fan ; lonely children speak to and about what their parents or guardians dismiss as imaginary friends until contrary evidence materializes ; an impoverished writer visits an antique shop finding different surroundings and tenants at night to those during the daytime ; a strange hand haunts a mansion and it's inhabitants ; strange telephone calls from the dead ; a mystery figure sweeps up leaves at night ; all who sleep on cabin 105 on the ship Kamschatka go mad and throw themselves overboard. All of these happenings have only the explanation of the supernatural: Strange encounters with phantoms, ghosts , ghouls and the undead. Roald Dahl puts together a charming anthology of eerie old-fashioned ghost stories from various different authors, with all the right touches, where the twists in the tale all have a supernatural flavour. These stories will chill your spine and stay in your mind long after you have read them. My personal favourites are Harry, Playmates, Ringing the Changes, The Ghost of a Hand, The Sweeper and On the Brighton Road.

A ghost story should first and foremost be about atmosphere, and this collection of subtle, beautifully written ghost stories is a must-have. The stories range from the classic Victorian style to more bizarre stories such as the brilliant "Ringing the Changes." In addition, Dahl has selected works that are not usually included in the horror cannon. There is no Poe, no "Monkey's Paw." Instead, Dahl chose to emphasize more subtle and lesser-known works. And his introduction about the importance of women writers is also not to be missed. This is a brilliant anthology.